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Until Baha'u'llah's coming, Christian churches, Christian governments, Christian institutions, Christians nations, indeed the Christian world as a whole regarded men as superior to women, and refused to grant them the rights and prerogatives that we now see as theirs. One example out of many can be cited to illustrate this point: it was not until the twentieth century, almost two thousand years after the First Coming, that women were even allowed the right to vote in government elections. And, of course, the vast majority of the candidates for all elected institutions were men (120:5) Baha'u'llah has said that there is a power in the word of God, a power to influence all of creation. When He revealed these words: "Women and men, have been and will always be, equal in the sight of God" , this was at once a statement of reality, a goal for the human race to achieve, and the source of spiritual energy required for its accomplishment. Having uttered these words, no power in the world could resist their eventual realization. Whether the strongholds of orthodoxy, of whatever culture or religion or government, chose to support or retard the advancement of women, complete equality of the sexes was to be, for God, in this day, had willed it. Just as you cannot stop the sun from rising, the sun of Baha'u'llah's teachings cannot be stayed (120:6) The significance of the realization of equal opportunity for women in education, employment, service to society, and representation in government, and the concomitant benefits that these changes will confer on the human race are far too great to be discussed here. The Baha'i writings regarding this principle are extensive. I can do no more here than state that this great principle is regarded in the Baha'i writings as an essential prerequisite to the abolition of war, the enlightened and balanced education of future generations, and the upliftment of human civilization as a whole
(120:7)
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